General Information and History

The First National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities, in May 2006, was hosted by ABA President Michael S. Greco and sponsored by the ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law, the ABA Office of the President, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Law firms and other legal employers, federal agencies, law students and lawyers with disabilities, national disability organizations, and law school representatives joined President Greco in this two day event held in Washington D.C. Keynote speakers included former Attorney General, Richard L. Thornburgh, EEOC Chair, Cari M. Dominguez, and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, David Tatel. Afterwards, a comprehensive Conference Report with specific recommendations was sent to bar leaders, law firms, other legal employers, law schools, and disability organizations. The second Conference plans on emulating the success of the 2006 conference.

The Second National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities will be held in Washington D.C. at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, on June 15-16, 2009. The Conference will be hosted by the ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law and 2008-2009 ABA President H. Thomas Wells Jr. It is co-sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. The Conference is planned and overseen by the Commission's Subcommittee on the National Employment Conference, which is chaired by Margaret M. Foran. This groundbreaking program aims to: encourage large legal employers, particularly corporations and law firms, to sign pledges to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace with an emphasis on hiring and retaining lawyers with disabilities; develop best practices for promoting disability diversity and inclusion; and identify legal employers and work settings that are models for the legal profession. The Conference is part of the ABA’s commitment to open the legal profession to lawyers with disabilities.

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About the Commission

The Commission's mission is "to promote the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession." The Commission consists of 15 members appointed by the ABA President on an annual basis. It meets bi-annually at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. to map out future plans and to direct its current activities.

The ABA’s Commission on the Mentally Disabled was established in 1973 to respond to the advocacy needs of persons with mental disabilities. After the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ABA broadened the Commission’s mission to serve all persons with disabilities and changed its name to the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law (CMPDL). Today, the Commission carries out an array of projects and activities addressing disability-related public policy, disability law, and the professional needs of lawyers and law students with disabilities.

Professor of Law, Alex J. Hurder currently sits as Chair of the Commission, and John W. Parry is the Staff Director.

About Diversity and the ABA

ABA GOAL III: ELIMINATE BIAS AND ENHANCE DIVERSITY.

Objectives:
1. Promote full and equal participation in the association, our profession, and the justice system by all persons.
2. Eliminate bias in the legal profession and the Justice System.

In order to fulfill Goal III, the ABA has 4 Commissions to carry out the ABA's diversity efforts, in addition to this Commission there are:

This Commission also issues an annual report on the status of lawyers with disabilities within the legal profession, particularly the ABA.

Shortly after this meeting, in Washington, DC at the same hotel, ABA President H. Thomas Wells Jr., will be hosting a diversity summit. Details coming soon.

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About the Commission